Question
By Scott Koegler
May 25, 2004
Over the last couple years, it's become easier to take functions from a service provider's Web site and add them to your own. Companies like FedEx and UPS are classic examples of this type of trend, and putting one of these shippers' links on your order status page lets your customers track their shipment by simply clicking the link. This saves both you and the shipper phone calls and e-mails from your customers checking on their orders.
This is kind of functionality is possible because FedEx, as well as a growing number of Web sites, have created systems called Web services. Web services allow external parties to access functions that are running on the provider's -- in this case, FedEx's -- own servers. Web services are delivered using XML-based protocols like SOAP and so, are only accessible by other applications -- so you can hook FedEx services into your own site or program. Usually, the functions delivered by Web services are very specific in nature, but often enable you or your service provider to include the most useful functions in your own systems.
Some of the biggest names in e-commerce already offer Web services that you or your service provider (hosting provider, storefront service, etc.) can take advantage of to boost your business.
If you're running an active e-commerce business, some of the services available from Amazon.com, eBay or eBay's PayPal subsidiary may add value to your site by reducing the time you spend answering questions, making your site more sticky by offering services your customers find useful, or up-selling and cross-selling more products or services.
And it pays even for non-developers or users of hosted platforms to understand what's available from Web services -- so you can identify service providers that can offer you this sort of close access to Amazon, eBay or PayPal.
Why should Amazon, eBay or PayPal share this kind of access? There's a mutual benefit. The Web services provider is able to deliver its services more easily to a wider range of users -- increasing the overall use of FedEx's shipping services. And sites that integrate the services are able to offer features they would not otherwise have access to......
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This is a good article, definitely worth the read.
-Jim
Answer
I have been avoiding this forum, because as much as I want to learn how to do my own website, I feel like I really don't comprehend what is being said when people talk about websites, design, etc..
Sooo, I wanna earn some here points and here I am. But I am serious about my questions.
Those who have the computer skills, intuitively understand, or have struggled to learn how to do it-tell me- should I just seek out someone to do this for me? Remember I feel intimidated, overwhelmed and don't have any grasp of the things y'all talk about in the threads on this and the other website design forum.
I don't have unlimited amounts of time either. A hint to my skill level..I've tackled the ebay store. In 2 weeks I've got 4 items listed and can't get the cross promotion going right yet.
Probably in the long run it would cost less to have someone do this for me, than the time and effort I would need to give. Am I right??
any ideas on what it would cost to have this done and reccomendations?....hire someone local?..online?
Thanks fo any advice,
cariad
Answer
Originally Posted by cariad
I have been avoiding this forum, because as much as I want to learn how to do my own website, I feel like I really don't comprehend what is being said when people talk about websites, design, etc..
Sooo, I wanna earn some here points and here I am. But I am serious about my questions.
Those who have the computer skills, intuitively understand, or have struggled to learn how to do it-tell me- should I just seek out someone to do this for me? Remember I feel intimidated, overwhelmed and don't have any grasp of the things y'all talk about in the threads on this and the other website design forum.
I don't have unlimited amounts of time either. A hint to my skill level..I've tackled the ebay store. In 2 weeks I've got 4 items listed and can't get the cross promotion going right yet.
Probably in the long run it would cost less to have someone do this for me, than the time and effort I would need to give. Am I right??
any ideas on what it would cost to have this done and reccomendations?....hire someone local?..online?
Thanks fo any advice,
cariad
You can definitely hire someone, there are tons of web designers around. Some good, some not so good. The problem is, you don't always get what you pay for.
You might want to check out www.networksolutions.com . They will host your site and also provide plenty of tools to build it yourself. I know someone that has a site with them. She was almost computer illiterate when she signed up and she said its easy to make your own site.
Also, I believe they have a 30 day free trial, as well as very good live 24/7 customer support.
I don't work for networksolutions, and I'm not an affliate or anything like that. I just think its a good choice for people like you that want their own site but don't know the best way to get one.
Answer
I created the following guide to help our clients get to grips with taking payments over the web. You may also find it useful.
Guide to Online Payments
I don’t give masses of details just a brief overview of each stage, including: checkout, manual and automatic authorisation (authorization), capture and online merchant accounts. Alternative payment methods like PayPal, WorldPay and NoChex are also discussed.
We use Pay Pal and have found it very reliable and easy to administer but expensive!
Cheers
Simon
Shopping Cart Software by eShopFitters
Answer
Those who have the computer skills, intuitively understand, or have struggled to learn how to do it-tell me- should I just seek out someone to do this for me? Remember I feel intimidated, overwhelmed and don't have any grasp of the things y'all talk about in the threads on this and the other website design forum.
I don't have unlimited amounts of time either.
I'm a "do it yourself" kinda person, but I realize not everyone is.
Here's my thoughts.
If you hire someone to do it (which can be expensive - VERY expensive - COST PROHIBITIVE!), then you become a) dependant on that person/company (and if they up and go out of business, you are where?), b) you STILL don't understand much about website design, funciton, etc. so youre're basically "stuck" with the company/person you've hired, (since you can't move elsewhere since you haven't learned the "how to's"), and c) if a sense of personal accomplishment means anything to you, you've got little.
Much to learn?
Yes.
Time consuming?
Can be - depends if your site is commercial in nature and if it's going to be your livelihood or a hobby endeavor
Answer
Just buy a site that's already set up. There's tons of them available on eBay for very little money. Then, fools like us will help you tweak it to your liking for free, or maybe for a little beer money, perhaps.